Councillors yesterday voted unanimously for the go-ahead to the long-awaited Northern Gateway development, which will create up to 3,000 jobs and bring an extra £11m a year expenditure into the county. The 200 acre site off Welsh Road, Garden City was bought for £5m in June 2010 as part of a joint venture between Pochin and Rosemound Developments.

Speaking during a special planning meeting at County Hall, Sealand Cllr Christine Jones said the “exciting” project is just what her community needs. She added: “I hope it will envelope around and be a new, bigger Sealand. We don’t want to lose our identity or be seen as poor relations to the development.”

Cllr Ian Dunbar, who worked at the old Corus site for 30 years, welcomed the development saying the area was in “dire need” of employment, while Cllr Alison Halford said: “This will change the face of the economy in Flintshire.”

As part of the project the developers will restore the Grade II-listed buildings on the site, including the iconic John Summers clock built in 1907, to create a “campus” containing the technology park, a training centre and hotel.

David Rowlinson, acting on behalf of the

applicant Pochin Rosemound Deeside, told the meeting that the development would “breathe life into the John Summers building”.

Cllr Mike Peers suggested that the building should be used for the hotel. He also said that members had a “unique opportunity to maximise the waterfront part of the development”, calling for houses to be built along the River Dee rather than business units.

Councillors will be able make such proposals when the developers submit a further application providing details on

access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.

The council’s head of planning, Andrew Farrow, said approval for the scheme was a “landmark moment”.